Facsimile apparatus using a selective polling signal

1. A communication apparatus using a selective polling signal, comprising: holding means for holding a polling image using an image holding process; generation means for automatically generating a selective polling number assigned to the image held in said holding means based on the image holding process; memory means for storing the number generated by said generation means; receiving means for receiving the selective polling signal; and transmission means for comparing a number of the selective polling signal received by said receiving means with the number stored in said memory means and polling transmitting the image held in said holding means when the numbers match.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means holds a plurality of images and said generation means generates different numbers for different destinations.

3. A communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said memory means holds the number generated by said generation means even after completion of polling transmission, and during a next polling waiting period, said generation means does not generate a number and said memory means provides the stored number to said holding means.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generation means includes a telephone number of the destination station within the generated number.

5. A communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said generation means includes a password within the generated number.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.

7. A facsimile apparatus using a selective polling signal and a password signal, comprising: receiving means for receiving the selective polling signal; receiving means for receiving the password signal; and transmission means for transmitting images of different types depending on whether a received signal is the selective polling signal or the password signal, wherein said transmission means transmits, as a sequence of image data, and without disconnecting a communication line, both a document sheet image and a communication management report when both the selective polling signal and the password signal are received, wherein only the document sheet image is sent when the selective polling signal, but not the password signal, is received.

8. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said transmission means transmits a document sheet image when the selective polling signal is received.

9. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said transmission means transmits a communication management report when the password signal is received.

10. A facsimile apparatus using a selective polling signal, comprising: holding means for holding a polling image; generation means for generating a selective polling number assigned to the image held in said holding means, said generation means automatically setting an apparatus identification number within the selective polling number; receiving means for receiving the selective polling signal; and transmission means for comparing a number of the selective polling signal received by said receiving means with the generated number and polling transmitting the image held in said holding means when the numbers match.

11. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus identification number is a telephone number.

12. A facsimile method using a selective polling signal, comprising the steps of: holding a polling image; receiving the selective polling signal, which is a single data packet, the selective polling signal having been established for use as a document identification number in a standard communication recommendation; extracting a process command for the image held in said holding step from the selective polling signal received by said receiving step, said process command being other than a document identification number; and executing the process command extracted by said extracting step, wherein said process command commands a facsimile apparatus executing said method to transmit a list of data registered in the facsimile apparatus.

13. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the data is one-touch dial data.

14. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 12, wherein data is abbreviated dial data.

15. A communication method using a selective polling signal, comprising the steps of: holding a polling image using a holding process; automatically generating a selective polling number assigned to the image held in said holding step based on the holding process; storing the number generated by said generation step; receiving the selective polling signal; and comparing a number of the selective polling signal received by said receiving step with the number stored in said storing step and polling transmitting the image held in said holding step when the numbers match.

16. A communication method according to claim 15, wherein said holding step holds a plurality of images and said generating step generates different numbers for different destinations.

17. A communication method according to claim 16, wherein said storing step holds the number generated by said generating step even after completion of polling transmission, and during a next polling waiting period, said generating step does not generate a number and said storing step provides the stored number for said holding step.

18. A communication method according to claim 15, wherein said generating step includes a telephone number of the destination station within the generated number.

19. A communication method according to claim 18, wherein said generating step includes a password within the generated number.

20. A communication method according to claim 15, wherein a communication apparatus using said method is a facsimile apparatus.

21. A facsimile method using a selective polling signal and a password signal, comprising the steps of: receiving the selective polling signal; receiving the password signal; and transmitting images of different types depending on whether a received signal is the selective polling signal or the password signal, wherein said transmitting step transmits, as a sequence of image data, and without disconnecting a communication line, both a document sheet image and a communication management report when both the selective polling signal and the password signal are received, wherein only the document sheet image is sent when the selective polling signal, but not the password signal, is received.

22. A facsimile method according to claim 21, wherein said transmitting step transmits a document sheet image when the selective polling signal is received.

23. A facsimile method according to claim 21, wherein said transmitting step transmits a communication management report when the password signal is received.

24. A facsimile method using a selective polling signal, comprising the steps of: holding a polling image; generating a selective polling number assigned to the image held in said holding step, said generating step automatically setting an apparatus identification number within the selective polling number; receiving the selective polling signal; and comparing a number of the selective polling signal received by said receiving step with the generated number and polling transmitting the image held in said holding step when the numbers match.

25. A facsimile method according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus identification number is a telephone number.

26. A facsimile apparatus using a selective polling signal, comprising: holding means for holding a polled image; assigning means for automatically setting a specific number according to a destination to a selective polling signal and then setting an optional number to the selective polling signal, for combining the specific number and the optional number to form a combined number, and for assigning the combined number to the image held in said holding means; receiving means for receiving the selective polling signal; and transmission means for comparing a number of the selective polling signal received by said receiving means with the set number, and for polling transmitting the image held in said holding means when the numbers match.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said assigning means combines the predetermined number with another number and assigns the combined number as the set number to the image held in said holding means.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising an input means, and wherein the other number is input through the input means.

29. A facsimile method using a selective polling signal, comprising: holding a polled image; automatically setting a specific number according to a destination to a selective polling signal, setting an optional number to the selective polling signal for combining the specific number and the optional number to form a combined number; assigning the combined number to the image held in said holding step; receiving the selective polling signal; and comparing a number of the selective polling signal received by said receiving step with the set number, and polling transmitting the image held in said holding step when the numbers match.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said setting step combines the predetermined number with another number and said assigning step assigns the combined number as the set number to the image held in said holding step.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the other number is input through an input means.